Planning a Trip

Getting There

Aer Arann (tel. 01/814-5240; www.aerarann.ie) operates two daily flights from Dublin into little Sligo Airport, Strandhill, County Sligo (tel. 071/916-8280; www.sligoairport.com), 8km (5 miles) southwest of Sligo Town. The flight takes about 40 minutes. The bus to Sligo town from the airport will cost you around €3 ($3.90), while you can expect a taxi to cost around €14 ($18).

Irish Rail, with its station on Lord Edward Street (tel. 071/916-9888; www.irishrail.ie), operates daily service into Sligo from Dublin.

Bus Éireann, also pulling into Lord Edward Street (tel. 071/916-0066; www.buseireann.ie), operates daily bus service to Sligo from Dublin, Galway, and other points, including Derry in Northern Ireland.

Four major roads lead to Sligo: N4 from Dublin and the east, N17 from Galway and the south, N15 from Donegal to the north, and N16 from County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.

Visitor Information

For information about Sligo and the surrounding area, contact the North West Regional Tourism Office, Aras Reddan, Temple Street, Sligo (tel. 071/916-1201; www.northwestireland.travel.ie). It's open year-round, weekdays 9am to 5pm, with weekend and extended hours April to August. The most comprehensive local Internet source for Sligo can be found at www.sligotourism.ie.

Town Layout

Edged by Sligo Bay to the west, Sligo Town is bisected by the Garavogue River, with most of its commercial district on the river's south bank. O'Connell Street is the main north-south artery, and the main east-west thoroughfare is Stephen Street, which becomes Wine Street and then Lord Edward Street. The Tourist Office is in the southwest corner of the town on Temple Street, 2 blocks south of O'Connell Street. Three bridges span the river; the Douglas Hyde Bridge, named for Ireland's first president, is the main link between the two sides.

Getting Around

There is no public transport in the town of Sligo. During July and August, Bus Éireann (tel. 071/916-0066) runs from Sligo Town to Strandhill and Rosses Point.

Taxis line up at the taxi stand on Quay Street. If you prefer to call for a taxi, try A Cabs (tel. 071/914-5777), ACE Cabs (tel. 071/914-4444), Greenline Hackney Cabs (tel. 071/916-9000), or Sligo Cabs (tel. 071/917-1888).

You'll need a car to see the sights outside Sligo Town. If you need to hire one, contact Avis, Sligo Airport (tel. 1890/405060), or Hertz, Wine Street, Sligo (tel. 071/914-4068).

The best way to see the town is on foot. Follow the signposted route of the Tourist Trail. The walk takes approximately 90 minutes. From mid-June to September, the Tourist Office, Temple Street, Sligo (tel. 071/916-1201), offers guided tours; contact the office for details and reservations.

Fast Facts

In an emergency, dial tel. 999. St. John's Hospital is at Ballytivan, Sligo (tel. 071/914-2606), or you can try Sligo County Hospital, The Mall (tel. 071/914-2620). The Garda Station is on Pearse Road (tel. 071/914-2031).

Need to check your e-mail? There are Internet-accessible PCs at the County Sligo Library, on Stephen Street (tel. 071/914-2212), which is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm and 2 to 5pm.

The Sligo General Post Office, Wine Street (tel. 071/914-2646), is open Monday through Saturday 9am to 5:30pm.